Dundee United Set For De Vries Capture

DUNDEE UNITED were last night on the verge of snapping up former Hearts star Mark de Vries.

DUNDEE UNITED were last night on the verge of snapping up former Hearts star Mark de Vries.

Tannadice boss Craig Levein was manager at Tynecastle when de Vries was a Jambo and the pair could be reunited within the next 24 hours.

The Dutch striker is negotiating a severance package with English outfit Leicester City that would pave the way for a move to Tannadice.

He could make his Tangerines debut away to Kilmarnock on Saturday.

The arrival of de Vries would ease the Arabs' striking crisis and the player is desperate to seal a return to Scotland.

United have already lost Irish ace Jon Daly to injury and on-loan youngster Jordan Robertson was recalled by Sheffield United on the eve of last weekend's impressive win over Aberdeen.

Meanwhile, United chairman Eddie Thompson last night rejected bids from two English Championship clubs - believed to be Burnley and Ipswich - for captain Barry Robson.

It is understood Burnley offered £700,000 and Ipswich less but Thompson told both clubs their bids were derisory and suggested they consider increasing them.

He said: "We've had offers from two English clubs in the last 24 hours.

Neither match our valuation and they have both been told in the nicest possible way to go away and rethink."

Levein has been fearing approaches since the transfer window opened with in-form Robson scoring 11 goals already this season.

Celtic were expected to be the first to try their luck but they are in danger of losing out on one of the country's top talents.

It is believed United value Robson at well over £1million and Burnley are likely to increase their initial bid.

Boss Owen Coyle, who has also made an offer for Celtic's Derek Riordan, is a big admirer of Robson from his time managing and playing in Scotland.

It emerged yesterday that Robson could land his former club Inverness Caley Thistle a six-figure cash boost if he moves this month.

A sell-on clause was negotiated when they sold him to United for £50,000 in 2003.

The Tannadice club were relieved to learn last night that Danny Swanson does not require knee surgery.

He was carried off during Saturday's win over Aberdeen with suspected cruciate damage but the injury is not as bad as first feared.

Arabs assistant boss Peter Houston said: "We were unsure about how much damage had been done and these days you fear the worst with knee injuries because so many boys end up with cruciate problems.

"But our physio has had a look at him and he's okay. We can't put a timescale on when he'll be back yet but it's encouraging news."

Houston revealed Lee Wilkie could still make Saturday's trip to Kilmarnock despite suffering a hamstring problem that meant he could not play the second half of the Dons clash.

He said: "Lee has a slight tear in his hamstring but it's only minimal so I wouldn't rule him out of the weekend yet. He's been working with the physio, doing running in the pool and working on his leg muscles.

"His attitude is such that I wouldn't ever rule him out of anything.

"He's missed a lot of football in his life and he's the type of boy who would play every day if he could."